Theme: Unconditional Faithfulness in A Conditional World
Scripture:
These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, bblameless in his time; Noah walked with God.
10 Noah became the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
11 Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence.
12 God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth.
13 Then God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth.
14 “Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; you shall make the ark with rooms, and shall cover it inside and out with pitch.
15 “This is how you shall make it: the length of the ark three hundred cubits, its breadth fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits.
16 “You shall make a window for the ark, and finish it to a cubit from the top; and set the door of the ark in the side of it; you shall make it with lower, second, and third decks.
17 “Behold, I, even I am bringing the flood of water upon the earth, to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life, from under heaven; everything that is on the earth shall perish.
18 “But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.
Introduction:
We live in a world where relationships are often transactional, or “quid pro quo.” In today’s post-modern world, people often assess their friendships, marriages, and relationships by what they are getting out of it. So much so the term “flavor of the week” has been coined to label such relationships.
You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours. Relationships have become transactional, and when one person doesn’t pay up, we quickly move on to the next best thing. Some of us have been used. Some of us have used. In end, people only remember what another was “good for” or what we got out the “said” friendship/marriage/relationship. In the end, we either abandon the relationship, or we get abandoned. But, when it comes to our relationship with God, His promises remain, His unchanging covenant does not dissolve – nor does it even get frayed. His love for us remains, even when we stumble.
Big Idea: God does not abandon us when we stumble
Point 1. God establishes covenants and upholds them
a. The Noahic Covenant is the unconditional promise God made to Noah, his descendants, and every living creature after the global flood.
b. Genesis 6:18 – God Preserves those who belong to Christ, the final Noah.
a. Genesis 7:16/Hebrews 11:7
Illustration: The Bow Aimed Upward
The word used for “rainbow” in Genesis 9 is the exact same Hebrew word (qeset) use for a warrior’s battle bow.
In some cultures, a King hung up his bow as a sign of peace, that the war was over.
Someone once said, “When God places His bow in the sky, notice the direction it is pointing: The arc points toward earth, but the arrow is aimed directly up at Heaven.
God points the weapon of judgement away from humanity and toward HIMSELF. It’s a visual prophesy of the cross – where the arrow of judgement would ultimately strike the Son, securing eternal peace for us.”
Point 2. God’s covenants each prefigure the new covenant in Jesus Christ.
a. God promises in a covenant to save Noah, prefiguring the new covenant in Christ by which we receive eternal salvation.
b. Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:25, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
The flood brought a whole world to an end, leaving only a remnant. This flood prefigures the final judgement which will end the present heavens and earth, this time with fire. Just as God preserved Noah and his family, we to can have confidence that God will preserve us when His Mighty Day arrives.
Conclusion: It should bring us all immense comfort and emotional relief to us knowing that God fulfills His promises, and God fulfills His covenants. In a world when we are told that we don’t measure up, as soldiers of Christ, we can hang up our bows in peace. There is no need to be exhausted over trying to measure up. God is faithful. HE can and does measure up.
The war is over. It is won. It is finished.
